Religion – Page 18

Maman Brijit: Loa of the Cemetery

June 30, 2007August 25, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Guest Authors, Mythology, Religion

Article by Matthew
Image by Will Hobbs (www.sirwilliamwesley.com)

Maman Brijit is a Voodoo Loa who watches over the dead. She comes to us in the form of a corpse in a wedding dress; she tells bad dirty jokes and swears like a sailor. The reason for this is that being dead she doesn’t have to follow any of society’s rules, so it is very common to hear her and her family talk constantly about penis’ and other sexual organs.
But where does she come from?

Most of us know of Brigit, the Celtic goddess of smiths, healing and poetry however when the Scottish and Irish indentured servants were sent to Haiti they brought their legends and love of Brigit as well. As time went by, she eventually became absorbed into Voodoo as the wife of the Baron and the mother of the Ghede (the dead), and by all accounts she is very happy to be there!

We can call on her for just about any purpose; however, her specialty is reuniting the dead with the living, fertility and healing. She is known to save people from the brink of death at the very last moment, and removing curses just as the begin to go into effect, however, as with any loa, she will not do this just for fun – she requires payment!

How do you call upon Maman Brijit?

Go to your local cemetery and look for the first female grave. This may require some research, but it is well worth the effort. Bring a purple, black and a white candle with you (these are her favorite colors) along with some piman (raw rum with 21 hot peppers) if you can get it, otherwise plain rum or strong black coffee will work. She also likes roasted peanuts (unsalted), roasted corn, peppered bread and if you aren’t too squeamish her offerings tend to be a pair of doves. Sacrifice is not required though, she is happy with the legume offerings too. Maman Brijit also loves strong unfiltered cigarettes.

Erect a cross over the grave (sticks are fine) and make the veve you see at the head of this article in flour over the grave itself.

If you are not able to do this work in a graveyard, you can set a space in your house for her, but make sure it’s clean and free of clutter; set the cross against a wall and make the veve in front of it with the candles.
When the space is ready, light the candles and say a prayer to the most high god/dess. Traditionally this would be the Our Father, Hail Mary and Apostles Creed, but so long as you are addressing the Creator of the Universe you will do fine. Next you might want to ask your ancestors and dead loved ones to attend the ritual as well.

The Baron, Brijit and Ghede are interesting loa in that you do not need to call upon Papa Legba to open the gateway for you, you can just begin calling on them after your opening prayers. I would recommend not calling her into a circle though because she tends to be slightly claustrophobic – and its no fun playing host to a freaked out corpse!!

Here is a beautiful song that the Haitians sing to Maman Brijit:

(Haitian Creole)
Mesye la kwa avanse pou l we yo!
Maman Brigitte malad, li kouche sou do,
Pawol anpil pa leve le mo (les morts, Fr.)
Mare tet ou, mare vant ou, mare ren ou,
Yo prale we ki jan yap met a jenou.

(English)
Gentlemen of the cross (deceased ancestors) advance for her to see them!
Maman Brigitte is sick, she lies down on her back,
A lot of talk won’t raise the dead,
Tie up your head, tie up your belly, tie up your kidneys,
They will see how they will get down on their knees.
From http://members.aol.com/racine125/vleson2.html

Keep singing this song, maybe shaking a cha-cha, in a sing-song sort of way. When you begin to feel her presence say something like: “Maman Brijit, it is I who am calling you, do you see me? Look at this food and drink that I brought for you. Please eat them. This food and drink and smoke is for you Maman, please give me … “

Now continue to rattle the cha-cha and sing her songs, light a cigarette for her, puff but don’t smoke it; the cigarette belongs to her, and she might get upset if you eat, drink or smoke her offerings without asking permission.

When you are done, and you feel that the ceremony went well, you could do a tarot reading to see if she has any messages for you. Then simply thank her and say goodbye.

The magic of the loa tends to be subtle; you will go along with your life and not notice the results right away – which is why it would be a good idea to journal your experiences with Maman Brijit.

Matthew has traveled the world in search of magical knowledge..

Profile: The Aquarian Tabernacle Church of Wicca

June 30, 2007August 25, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Organizations, Religion

Text provided by The Aquarian Tabernacle Church of Wicca

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church of Wicca Western Washington state’s oldest, friendliest open attendance Interfaith church of Wicca and earth Religions. We are family friendly and welcome seekers on all Pagan paths and people of all orientations, ages and beliefs. We’ve been here for over twenty five years while others have come and gone. We must be doing something right! Come, worship with us, eat with us, meet new friends. Ask us about SpiralScouts, the ATC’s alternative to mainstream scouting programs that has become world-wide in just a few years.

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church, the “ATC,’ or sometimes just “The Tab” is the creation of Pete Pathfinder Davis, who serves as Archpriest along with Deborah K. Hudson, who is Archpriestess of the tradition worldwide. ATC is based on English Traditional Wicca, with a focus of serving the larger Pagan communities by providing open worship opportunities to the public, education, interfaith liaison, and in general, providing the infrastructure available to the followers of most faiths, but previously just not available to Wiccans and Pagans. Things like major Sabbat festivals, full and new moon worship, a place to gather, a lending library, and many other services associated with faith communities.

This all started on October 31 of 1979, when Pete and a few friends decided to form a formal church organization, and established the ATC. It was their intention to establish a quiet place in the countryside outside of Seattle where Wiccans and Pagans could gather for worship without being hassled by ignorant neighbors or suspicious authorities who did not understand their benevolent nature worship practices. The “Tab,” where the church facilities are located, is about 50 miles from downtown Seattle, in the Cascade mountains of Washington, on the banks of the Skykomish river, one of the nation’s last “wild rivers.” Less than a mile away, two twin peaks, Mt. Index and Mt. Persis rise 5,000 feet above the river valley floor. Bald eagles and ospreys nest nearby and soar in the rising wind currents from the nearby hills and mountains. It is truly a natural site in every sense. Out to the rear of the main church building that houses the library, office, kitchen and dining areas, is the MoonStone Circle, the actual place of worship.

The MoonStone Circle is a circle of tall standing menhirs or stones, on a small rise within a stand of old stately cedar trees. This circle was constructed by Seattle area Pagans over a period of two years, using slabs of local granite found along an 1,800 foot high cliff that defines the northern edge of the valley. The circle was dedicated in the evening of December 29th, 1984, in a blinding snow storm. The area was blanketed in new snowfall, and illuminated by literally hundreds of candle stubs, set in the snow. The boughs of the cedars were bending low in their white mantle. The circle dedication was performed by 29 Pagans, some of whom had driven from as far away as eastern Washington, Oregon and Canada. Everyone there had a part in the ceremony. It was a memorable occasion on several counts (it was 2 days before the cars could be dug out of the snow and people could make their return trip home!)

With the participation of many like-minded Pagans, the ATC grew and flourished. Most noticeable was the absence of the customary frictions and infighting common to many Pagan enterprises, to the puzzlement of many observers. Later, we discovered it was due to the fact that we did not define ourselves by who we would not let join in. From the very beginning, ATC was an open attendance Pagan group, where anyone who wanted to attend could, without the usual need for someone to “vouch” for them. Everyone was given a chance to have their say, their ten minutes on the soap box to present their ideas. Certainly, not everyone agreed with everything said, but ATC soon became known as a “safe place” for everyone and their ideas, conventional or non conventional. We believe it is that original concept of Pete’s that is the major force in building the resulting community that ATC has become.

The ATC is a hierarchic organization, though you’d seldom notice that from the way things are done. There is a large core group of about 40 people who are deeply immersed in the activities, outreaches and events of the church, and an overall membership in the Pacific Northwest of in excess of 300. The Archpriestess and Archpriest oversee the overall activities of the church, both locally and on an international basis, through Archpriestesses and Archpriests of the church in each foreign nation where ATC has an official presence (ATC has recognition as a legal church tradition from the governments of USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland and South Africa at the moment. France does not recognize any church.). The Archpriesthood works with an advisory group, the Red Cord Council (or just “the Board”) and virtually all decisions are arrived at through discussion and compromise in the best interests of the mission of the church, by consensus. Rarely, if ever, has a vote been taken on anything. The Archpriesthood, however, retains the right of veto if they believe an action is not in the long run going to be in the best interests of the church or Paganism in general.

Annually at the Hekate’s Sickle Festival held each Samh’ain, the efforts of the members of the church are recognized by the awarding of beads for their cords, each bead having a particular significance. While every member is considered a priestess or priest, to be ATC clergy, one must attend a 4 year college level seminary program culminating in the award of a Bachelor of Ministry degree from our own Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary, with recognized religious education status by the Higher Education Coordinating Board of state of Washington. The Seminary also has Masters’ and Doctorate programs available. ATC does not intend to try to tell anyone how they should conduct their own clergy training, but we are fully committed to the professionalization of the clergy of our own tradition if they are to undertake matters as serious and delicate as pastoral counseling in the areas of life strategies, marital problems, and psychological and childhood trauma.

This is just a basic outline of the ATC’s history and accomplishments. No less than noted author Raymond Buckland, the man credited with bringing Gardnerian Wicca to the shores of the USA, has said in his encyclopedic Witch Book “…the ATC has grown by leaps and bounds to become one of the most respected Wiccan institutions in the country, if not the world.”

A Chronological History of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church (as of March, 2002)

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church was founded by Pierre C. Davis (aka Pete Pathfinder Davis) on Nov. 1, 1979 in Index, Washington. Davis, born in Jersey City, N.J. on March 22nd, 1937, the second son of Joseph A. Davis, a Catholic, and Adele Claveloux Davis, a self-proclaimed Pagan at a time when there was not yet a Pagan movement (1940s) visible in the United States. While “Pete” was and remains the major moving force behind the church, the ATC is not about him personally, but has become something much larger, standing on its own as a leading force in Paganism today. The ATC continues to be based in Index, Washington where ATC erected the MoonStone Circle, an outdoor circle of tall standing stones in a grove of tall old cedar trees behind the church buildings. This worship site was dedicated and consecrated on Dec. 29, 1984 by 29 Wiccans who arrived there for the ceremony from three states, during a blinding blizzard strength snowstorm.

Davis had received his first initiation into the craft on the 14th. of August, 1974, in Patterson, New Jersey, into a small, closed and very secretive tradition known as the Dorpat tradition. He was subsequently initiated into the Kingstone branch of English Traditional Wicca on the 21st. of September, 1983, after relocating to Seattle, Washington. Although it was his intention only to establish a small Wiccan retreat in the mountains near Seattle for local area Pagans to worship unmolested, it quickly became his objective to establish a Wiccan church with the recognition of the federal government, tax exempt status, to gain tolerance if not acceptance by the local mainstream religious bodies. The Goddess, however, had a much larger view and the ATC received governmental recognition in the USA on November 12, 1988 and subsequently gained IRS Group Exemption umbrella recognition as a Wiccan tradition on Dec. 30th., 1991. Any congregation that ATC accepts as an affiliated group in the U.S. receives automatic recognition as a tax exempt church through this Group Exemption.

The ATC went on to receive recognition in Canada Nov. 15th., 1993, and was registered and recognized in 1994 in the country of Australia through its’ affiliate there (which received its original recognition in 1984). The church was established in Ireland by Janet and Stewart Farrar on Feb. 24th., 1999, and subsequently received governmental recognition there as the first (and only) officially Wiccan/Pagan church in Ireland through the efforts of Rev Barbara Lauderdale, presiding elder, in October of 2001. The ATC has also been recognized by the government of South Africa in August of 1998. The ATC maintains a presence in France since April 24, 1999, but France does not officially recognize any church organizations, not even Catholicism, and recently has enacted restrictive laws against all minority religions. Recognition is in process in New Zealand at this writing.

There have been a number of “firsts” in the history of the ATC. In March of 1985, as a result of Davis’ being retained by the Washington State Attorney General as an expert witness to enlighten the Federal Court in Tacoma, WA. about the tenets of the religion of Wicca in a lawsuit brought by a prisoner, Wicca became acknowledged by the Department of Corrections as a religion worthy of recognition for inmates to practice. Shortly thereafter, Wicca appeared in the department’s first edition of “Handbook of Religious Beliefs and Practices” published for institutional chaplains.

In 1992, the ATC was accepted as the coordinating agency for the appointment of Wiccan delegates to the Interfaith Council of Washington (state), and in 1992, Rev. Pete Davis was unanimously elected as the president of the Interfaith Council of Washington. He served two terms, being unanimously reelected at the end of his first term. (So totally unheard of, this has to be a “first” for a Wiccan priest or priestess anywhere in the known universe!)

On April 7th of 1994, the ATC, through its in-house publishing effort then known as Pathfinder Press, issued the first of several mass-produced Pagan tracts (or, more correctly, anti-tracts) intended to educate as well as take some pokes at the fundamentalist Christian tracts published by the Jack T. Chick Publishing Co. of Chino, CA. ATC’s tracts, “The Other People” and “Heathens Idolize School Prayer” were published as parodies of Chick tracts, in the exact same format and appearance as Chick, with the same purpose in mind.

In October of 2001, the first outdoor Circle of tall standing stones was erected within the confines of the Twin Rivers Correctional Facility as a place of Wiccan worship. To our knowledge, there exists no other state sanctioned Wiccan outdoor stone circle intended for inmate worship anywhere in the world.

On April 2nd, 2001 ATC incorporated formally a young people’s nature lore and woodcraft program which had been begun in 1999 only as a local activity for the mother church. Because of the demand for some alternative to the Boy Scouts of America’s gender biased, and in some areas its pervasively fundamentalist Christian programs, “SpiralScouts” was launched as an international organization. SpiralScouts (note it is one word) was developed through an Internet on-line committee of slightly more than 500 participants, presaging its phenomenal acceptance and growth in the Pagan community worldwide. The program was created in such a fashion as to allow its use by any minority faith (or no faith at all) based group as a vehicle to educate children in a particular tradition. The program is adaptable to any non hostile religious community. As of July of 2004, in the months since SpiralScouts “went public,” there are over 100 chartered SpiralScouts groups in the US and Canada. The program continues to grow rapidly. (see WWW.SpiralScouts.org)

Established in April of 1998, the ATC’s Woolston-Steen Wiccan Theological Seminary received authorization from the Washington State Dept. of Higher Education’s Degree Authorization Board to issue academic degrees in Wiccan Ministry in August of 2000 under the agency’s religious exemption regulations. This seminary appears to this writing to be the only Wiccan educational effort to be granted an Internet identifier ending in (dot) edu. (see www.WiccanSeminary.edu).

Chronology: WebCrafter’s Note: The following chronology describes much of Pete’s life and accomplishments, and he expressed his concern over it looking like a “Pete Davis Dog and Pony Show”. It is my contention that without the energy and vision of this one man, the ATC might never have been started in the first place, and certainly would not have grown to the size it is now, or would have accomplished even half as much. The members and clergy of the ATC should look upon this chronology as an example of what a serious minded Pagan can accomplish if he or she puts aside his or her own self-imposed limitations, and just does what is right.

March 22, 1937- Pierre C. “Pete Pathfinder” Davis born in Jersey City, N.J..

August 14, 1974- Davis first initiated into Wicca in New Jersey.

August 1, 1976- Davis and his family relocate to Seattle area from New Jersey

November 1, 1979- Davis starts the Aquarian Tabernacle Church in Index, WA.

September 21, 1983- Davis initiated into the Kingstone tradition of Wicca in Seattle, Wa.

Summer of 1984- Davis and friends build a circle of standing stones in a forest grove.

December 29, 1984- The Moonstone Circle is dedicated in Index, WA. Summer,

1985- The ATC tradition liturgy is formalized and written down.

March, 1985- Davis hired by Washington Attorney General as an expert on Wicca in a federal civil rights court case brought by a prisoner. The prisoner prevails.

March, 1985- ATC’s first Spring Elusinian Mysteries Festival is held.

December, 1985- Wicca is listed as an accepted religion by the Washington Dept. of Corrections’ publication, “Chaplains’ Handbook of Religious Beliefs and Practices (1985)” in an entry written by Davis.

November 12, 1988- ATC receives IRS Letter of Determination of tax exempt status.

March 1990- ATC appointed the coordinating Agency for Wiccan and Pagan religion members by the Interfaith Council of Washington State.

May, 1991- ATC decides to expand into a nationwide tradition.

December 30, 1991- ATC receives IRS Group Exemption as a Wiccan church tradition.

January, 1992- Davis is first Wiccan Priest ever to be listed in Marquis’ “Who’sWho in Religion.”

March, 1992- Davis unanimously elected president of the Interfaith Council Of Washington State.

November 15, 1993- ATC-Canada receives official registration in Canada.

January 31, 1994- Church Of Wicca of Australia-ATC receives tax exemption in Australia.

March 1994- Davis unanimously reelected president ICOW.

April 7, 1994- ATC published “The Other People,” the first Wiccan anti-tract.

September, 1995- ATC’s Spirit Series of publicly offered Wiccan classes begins.

September, 1996- “Heathens Idolize School Prayer,” the second anti-tract, is released.

April 23, 1997- MoonStone Circle at church is vandalized; attacker confesses but is never prosecuted.

August 27, 1997- ATC is the first Wiccan/Pagan organization to apply to Veterans Administration for approval of the Pentacle as a religious symbol for use on government supplied headstones and markers for deceased veterans, beginning an eight year long battle to have Wicca and Paganism recognized by the VA.

August, 1998- ATC-South Africa is established and recognized.

April, 1998- The Woolston-Steen Wiccan Theological Seminary established.

February 24, 1999- ATC-Eire established by Janet & Stewart Farrar in Ireland.

April 24, 1999- ATC established a presence in religiously hostile France.

February, 2001- Ray Snyder, ATC representative to The Interfaith Association of Snohomish County (WA) was elected president of that organization.

June, 2000- Woolston-Steen Seminary recognized as a degree granting religious college level education institution by the State of Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board.

April 2, 2001- SpiralScouts International established as a Wiccan youth group.

October 1, 2001- ATC-Eire receives notice of official registration as the first tax exempt Wiccan church recognized by the Irish government.

October, 2001- ATC facilitates the construction by Wiccan inmates of the first worship ring of standing stones within the confines of the Washington Twin Rivers Correctional Center prison at Monroe, Washington.

October 31, 2004- the ATC celebrates its 25th anniversary as a public Wiccan church.

March 2005- ATC celebrates the 20th continuous presentation of ATC’s world renowned Spring Mysteries festival, the recreation of the Elusinian Mysteries of ancient Greece.

In the words of Pete Pathfinder Davis, ATC founder & Archpriest: “Never Forget that life is a journey, not a destination. You will never build a reputation on what you are going to do, and unfortunately, it’s never too late to do nothing. Only those who can see the invisible can accomplish the impossible, so go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have, right now! If you can dream it, you can do it, so do the things you think you cannot do. Luck is nothing more than good planning, carefully executed. Wisdom is knowing what comes next, and knowing just when to jump off the swing. You are only young once, but if you don’t pay attention to life’s lessons, you will be immature forever.”

To learn more visit: www.aquatabch.org

The Malaysian Conundrum

June 21, 2007August 25, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Christianity/Catholicism, First Amendment, Islam, Politics, Religion

On Wednesday May 30, 2007 Malaysia’s highest court ruled that they did not have the authority to help Lina Joy, a Malay Muslim, officially convert to Christianity and have that change reflected on her National Identity Card. Depending on what you know about the Malaysian Constitution and their judicial system, this may or may not surprise you. Obviously, I found it distressing. When I then learned that Article 11, clause 1, of the Malaysian Constitution states, “Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion and, subject to Clause 4, to propagate it.” I grew more confused. I should also mention that Article 3, clause 1, is “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.” So why is Lina Joy screwed? Welcome to the nightmare of the Malaysian Constitution butting heads with the Malaysian judicial system, and religion.

“This Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of inconsistency, be void,” Article 4, clause 1, the Malaysian Constitution. Of course, the Malaysian Constitution is enough to make the average person bash their head against the wall, or maybe that was just me. The Constitution became official in 1957 and has been amended approximately 42 times up through 2005. The wrinkle is that every batch of amendments only counts as one, regardless of how many changes were actually made each time the Constitution was amended. Thus, some scholars estimate that the true number of amendments has been more like 650. Ouchie. To help with your perspective, the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments, takes up roughly nineteen 81/2×11 pages. The Malaysian Constitution, in a similar font and format, uses up one hundred and sixty three 81/2×11 pages. Most authorities agree that the Malaysian document was deliberately vague, because the founding fathers were unwilling to upset any of the three dominant groups at the time of independence from Britain, when building a multiracial and peaceful nation was more important. Upon reading the document, a brain buster to say the least, I can safely say that the Malaysian Constitution is a somewhat conflicting piece of governance. Among loads of things, it allows for the freedom of faith, yet it says that Islam is the official religion. Anyone who understands the importance of separation of Church and State knows that this is a recipe for disaster.

I found several different numbers, so I’m taking the average. Approximately 54% of Malaysians are Muslim, with the remainder being Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Sikh. Malaysia has long served as an example of the world’s most progressive and modern Muslim democracies. I don’t want to put down Malaysia, it’s blend of religion and cultures is impressive and made for an awesome episode of “No Reservations” with Anthony Bourdain, but the more I’ve been learning, the more I have to say that Malaysia has some issues that terrify a born and raised American. Here is where the fun starts. Most native Malays, like Joy, are Muslim and have been for generations. Muslims, by order of their faith have certain requirements, and in an effort of the Malaysian government to better serve the Muslim needs, which have different laws that apply to them, a Muslim’s National Identity Card identifies them as Islam. In addition, to better serve the Muslim populations, they have their own court, the Shariah courts. These courts deal in the family and personal affairs of Muslim citizens. Civil courts see to the affairs of everyone else. Bumiputra, Malays and other indigenous people, who are primarily Muslim, benefit from a 30 year-old program of privileges that require certain levels of ownership by bumiputra to be maintained and enforce hiring quotas within large companies. Obviously, those standards continuing are dependent on the bumiputra staying a majority in Malaysia, and that religious conversions potentially can mess with those numbers. All of this lays the groundwork for how Lina Joy was screwed.

In 1990, Azlina Jailani began attending a Christian church. In 1998, she became baptized and filled out the paper work to have her name legally changed to Lina Joy. She also requested that her religion on her National Identity Card be changed to Christian, so that she could marry her Christian fiancé. Muslims in Malaysia are not allowed by law to marry people of other faiths. The intended spouse is expected to convert to Islam. Her name was legally changed, but both times she made the request to have Islam removed from the card, it was refused because she was ethnic Malay and was legally Muslim and could not change religions. Citing Article 4, 3, and 11 of the Malaysian Constitution, Joy took her case to the civil courts, because she was a baptized Christian and felt that the Shariah courts should not be involved in the matter.

The Federal Court was divided 2 to 1 in its decision that the matter was beyond the jurisdiction of the country’s civil courts and must be handled by religious authorities. Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim said that the government agency responsible for identity cards acted reasonably when it refused to change Joy’s religious status. According to the International Herald Tribune, he was quoted as saying, “She cannot at her own whim simply enter or leave her religion. She must follow the rules.” Yep, 8 years is very whimsical. Silly girl.

What are these rules that Joy should follow? She must offer proof in a special Muslim court that she has abandoned Islam and that the civil courts cannot interfere. Oh, that’s not so tough. Bearing in mind that according to Leonard Teoh Hooi Leong, a lawyer representing the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism (they’re called MCCBCHST for short…I’m serious), Joy will have a very difficult time getting the Islamic authorities to allow her to leave Islam. No one in recent years has done it in the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur, where Joy is registered. He says that those who have tried have been threatened and cajoled. Um, okay. That’s tougher. Oh, by the way, the abandonment of Islam is called apostasy, is deplored by many Muslims, and in several Malaysian states is punishable by fines and imprisonment. (To show how progressive Malaysia is, in other Muslim countries the punishment could be death.) Lina Joy’s fate now rests with the Shariah courts, and that would be why she is screwed. The Malaysian Constitution does not clearly state who has the final say in such matters and so by default it goes to the Islamic court.

Judge Richa
rd Malanjum, the one dissenting opinion, was quoted in the International Herald Tribune as saying Joy’s “fundamental constitutional right of freedom of religion” had been violated. Also, “She is entitled to have an identity card in which the word Islam does not appear.” Calling the agency’s refusal to officially change her religion “an abuse of power.”

Well amen brother! The older I get, the more I appreciate the simplicity, yet effectiveness, of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. After trying to learn and weave my way through this mess, I would kiss every last person involved with the Philadelphia Convention. Moreover, I don’t mean that figuratively. Go! Dig up their bones! After learning all this, I appreciate them enough I would French kiss their decomposed remains! Take heed friends, Malaysia is a shining example of what happens when there isn’t an effective separation of Church and State, and when civil liberties are whittled away at. The next time someone is willing to make a concession and gives away even a sliver of our rights, all it’s doing is making it easier for them to take more away.

In honor of Lina Joy and her plight, take a moment to read the Constitution of the United States of America, its Bill of Rights, and subsequent amendments. Savor the freedoms that our Constitution gives us that poor Lina Joy does not have access to. http://www.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/constitution.pdf

Obviously, a dumb average American like me does not innately know all about the Malaysian Constitution and justice system. I read many articles and visited many sites to cobble this together. If you want to walk in my footsteps, here are the many websites I visited and articles I read:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/30/news/malaysia.php
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9403&size=A
http://www.nysun.com/article/55680
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Malaysia
http://www.pogar.org/publications/other/constitutions/malaysia-e.pdf (all 163 pages of Malaysian Constitutional headache!)
http://article11.org/
http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/content/view/1834/27/

Roman Catholic Womenpriests

June 11, 2007August 25, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Christianity/Catholicism, Organizations, Religion

Canon Law 1024, “A baptized male alone receives sacred ordination validly.” This is from the Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, which was put forth on the feast of Pentecost in 1917, and later revised in 1983. So when I see the statement that only a baptized male alone receives sacred ordination validly I feel forced to ask, “Says who?” The answer is a bunch of guys in 1917. Not good enough for me, nor is it good enough for the Roman Catholic Womenpriests.

In 2002, the Danube Seven were ordained. The Danube Seven are a group of seven women from Germany, Austria, and the United States, who were ordained on a boat on the Danube (river that is) by Romulo Antonio Braschi. Although Braschi has since left the Roman Catholic Church, he was at the time a valid Roman Catholic Bishop. Unfortunately, the Roman Catholic Church viewed this as an extreme violation of Canon Law and when the women refused to repent, they were excommunicated and their ordination was invalidated.

A movement was born that is active to this day thanks to the efforts of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests (http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/index.htm). In fact, on May 27, 2007 in Toronto (that’s in Canada for you kids playing along at home) 5 women and 1 married man were ordained as priests or deacons.
In an article on Canadianchristianity.com (http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/070531priests.html) Father Damian MacPhearson, Director of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto was quoted as saying, “Since Roman Catholic doctrine forbids the ordination of women, the ordinations are automatically invalid.” This is in response to the RCWP’s assertions that its ordinations are in apostolic succession since they began with ordination by a Roman Catholic Bishop. MacPhearson was quoted in the same article stating, “Whatever happened today had no relationship to the Roman Catholic Church whatsoever, whatever those individuals may say.” In case a church based smack down is not annoying enough, The National Post ran a brief, and I might I mention unattributed, editorial letter in response to the ordinations (http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/editorialsletters/story.html?id=a4bf9bc7-2ab7-4679-b341-8cc2008fb5b0). In this piece, the author encourages the women to “go find another Christian sect” and suggests, “they (the RCWP) are less interested in reforming their faith than in putting on showy feminist stunts.” To that I say, if you’re not man enough to sign your name, your opinion doesn’t matter. I like my critics to have enough conviction to sign their name. (In case you weren’t aware, Rebecca Elson is writing this piece.)

So, just what is the deal with these evil subversive women? I went to their website and found “A Brief Overview of Womenpriests in the History of the Roman Catholic Church” (http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/RCWP_Resource.pdf). It tells me that “In our mission statement we clearly uphold the following: The goal of the group ‘RC Womenpriests’ is to bring about the full equality of women in the Roman Catholic Church. At the same time we are striving for a new model of Priestly Ministry. The movement ‘RC Womenpriests’ does not perceive itself as a counter-current movement against the Roman Catholic Church. It wants neither a schism nor a break from the Roman Catholic Church, but rather wants to work positively within the Church.” Those vixens! In the same document they mention an equally world destroying opinion, which is “We All are church, not just some.” And that “We reflect the people we serve: married, celibate, domestic partners, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered.” How dare they try to be all-inclusive and adapt to our modern society! I mean, just because it’s largely known that in 1976, the Pontifical Biblical Commission concluded that there is no biblical reason to prohibit women’s ordination, doesn’t give them any justification to feel that can be ordained Roman Catholic Priests! Oh, wait, that is not too bad a justification.

There’s more where that came from too. To see more arguments to their point visit the link to their document. However, just like a paranormal investigator speaking about skeptics, “For a believer there is already enough proof, but for the skeptic there will never be enough.” Neil MacCarthy, a media relations representative for the Archdiocese of Toronto, says in the Canadianchristianity.com article that the Church “doesn’t have the authority to change the rules Jesus established.” Then how and why were the Canon Laws revisited after 1917? Also, I’m not a New Testament girl myself, but I doubt that Jesus said, “Don’t let women be priests.” I could be wrong on that one. Of course, not to worry, both MacPhearson and MacCarthy point out in that article that there have been statements made by recent Popes affirming the role of women.

I read one of the statements in question (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_29061995_women_en.html) and I was not impressed. Don’t get me wrong, those Popes write some beautiful documents, but as a woman, I didn’t find it very satisfying at all. Pope John Paul II thanks women for all the important roles they fill, but in my opinion, the Pope thanks us for being team players, but never offers the indication that he thinks we could ever coach.

After everything I’ve read, I have come to this conclusion, these women are Roman Catholic Priests and Deacons. They are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and that despite what Father Damian MacPhearson says, everything these women do is in relationship of the Roman Catholic Church. To say otherwise is ludicrous. These women were baptized in the Roman Catholic faith and have never stepped off the path of that faith, and in fact were so inspired and moved by the Roman Catholic faith, that they desired to become ordained priests. At what point do you feel they stopped being Roman Catholics? I cannot see it. The role of the Roman Catholic priest is unlike any other role within the Church, and to try to sell people on the idea of settling for a different position is outdated thinking.
It’s 1917 thinking. It’s before the Pope was even televised kind of thinking! Religions need to respect that 1917 is not 2007, and that their followers are not the same people that they were 90 years ago. It is time; in my opinion, it’s well past the time, to allow women and married men the option of becoming priests. I would also say homosexuals, but it’s the Roman Catholic Church, what do I expect, miracles?

I have been in contact with Bridget Mary Meehan, Media Contact with RCWPs. She was kind enough to send me one of her published articles with permission to quote until my little heart was content. It’s a thoughtful piece, and here are some of her thoughts that I would like to share with you.

The Catholic Church teaches that a law must be received by the faithful. Seventy percent of Catholics in the U.S. support women’s ordination. Therefore canon 1024 which states that only a baptized male may receive Holy Orders does not have the force of law because it has not been accepted by the community or sensus fidelum.

In fact, we have a moral obligation to disobey this unjust law. St. Augustine said that an “unjust law is no law at all.” As Cardinal Walter Kasper, the former bishop of Rottenberg-Stuttgar, Germany and current president of the Vatican ‘s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity wrote: "Some situations oblige one to obey God and one’s own conscience, rather than the leaders of the church. Indeed, one may even be obliged to accept excommunication, rather than act against one’s conscience. It is time for an inclusive church, in which all are welcome at the table.”

Amen.

Veve, VeVe I love you

April 30, 2007August 24, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Religion, Symbols

Article by Rebecca
Image by Will Hobbs (www.sirwilliamwesley.com)

I have thumbed through my share of books on religions and occult practices. I have seen easily hundreds, if not thousands, of different symbols. Some are simple in design, but profound in meaning and depth, like the swastika that we discussed last month. Others are ornate and filled with detail helping mortal man comprehend larger ideas, like the Wheel of Life. Nothing prepared me for the first time I saw a veve. My husband was helping me do an Internet search one day, and peering over his shoulder I stopped in my tracks, “What is that?” I asked him. He scrolled down the page and said, “A veve.”

I was and still am amazed at the powerful image of the various veves. A veve is a symbol that represents a specific Loa (deity or highly evolved spirit) in Voodoo. They are ornate, and the more detail put into them, the more power it provides. You can find them on flags and other objects, but veves are meant not to last. These ornate designs are traditionally drawn on the ground in chalk, eggshell, corn meal, gunpowder, and other such mediums depending on the Loa that is being called upon. The various powders are sprinkled onto the ground into the appropriate designs by hand. Once on the ground, it serves as an altar for offerings and a focal point for invocation. There is a hidden language locked in the design of a veve that can only be read by those educated in the ways of Voodoo, so um, not me.

I do not have to be wise in the ways of Voodoo to know that these are powerful symbols. As images, they are beautiful art. By prescribed medium, they are unique and fleeting. With my very basic knowledge of Loas in Voodoo, beautiful, unique, and fleeting all seem appropriate adjectives for the symbols that represent them.

Generally, I try to offer some insight or personal philosophy with my columns about symbols. When discussing veves, I find my words and even thoughts fail to do justice to these noble symbols. Therefore, I’m going to let them speak for themselves.

Profile: The Universal Light

January 31, 2007August 18, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Organizations, Religion

Article provided by The Universal Light

If you want to officiate weddings, baptisms, funerals or if you help others or intend to, using massage, herbs or any of the metaphysical or para-psychological modalities, (which include e.s.p.; tarot, Reiki, hypnotherapy etc.). And if you follow any Monotheism or Polytheism belief which include Wicca and Hindu, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist or Christian belief – for your protection read this.

The AMA is constantly trying to get more and more States, as has Florida, to change their laws to read: ‘You cannot practice healing or health care without a license.’ We have many Ministers in Florida even practicing Reiki without problems. We have Ministers in the US, Canada, England, France, Hong Kong, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Switzerland and the U.K.

The purpose of most ‘religions’, (belief systems) is to grow in membership. Ours is simply to state what it is. Most ‘Churches’ are buildings, ours is not. There are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Wicca and Hindus who already have acknowledged their membership in TUL . We embrace all . Donald A. Rosenthal, ND.; PhD. Executive Director of the American Alternative Medical Association and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners; Dr. Marijah McCain of the Herbal Healer Academy; Dr. Allison Dahlhaus of the Reiki Blessings Academy; and Dr. Gale Kurtz President of the Traditional School of Sacred Arts have acknowledged their membership in and are legally ordained as ministers in TUL. Some of your closest friends or neighbors may have acknowledged their membership as well. By becoming an ordained minister in TUL, your 1st Amendment rights to preach and educate about the benefits of whatever modalities you believe in, are protected. If you are ordained in a different church and its purpose is not for the promotion of healing through natural means (the Creator’s), you may be well advised to transfer your ordination. Remember, by becoming a legally, ordained minister, you separate yourself from State laws regarding religious beliefs and come under the 1st. Amendment.

It was not until well after 250 AD that the business of training Priest and Ministers began. Prior to that, people followed the Spiritual guidance from within – we still uphold that method! Now is the time to make this move. You cannot become a minister to circumvent the law. But you can become a minister to practice your religious beliefs.

To acknowledge your membership in TUL, you become a Deacon,

To protect yourself in your service to others, you become Ordained and use the title Reverend, You also will be able to make additional income by officiating weddings, baptisms and funerals. We have some ministers who simply specialize in weddings. Basic ceremonies are well covered in a very inexpensive book called, The Broadman Minister’s Manual by Franklin M. Segler.

To use Dr. before your name or DD after your name, you become a Doctorate in Divinity.

To more answers to questions NOT COVERED on our web site; www.theuniversallight.com, Simply call TUL 9am -9pm est at 1.513.825.8290 or e-mail at: tulight@cinci.rr.com

Our Mission

Our mission, set forth on January 8th 1970 is to create & function according to scriptural authority in the physical/carnal (unspiritual) world a church. To be known as The Universal Light Church which will be spiritual, (not Spiritualist). It will be without walls and the only one of its kind we believe to truly exist. This church and its members shall be free to believe the truth within themselves and to function accordingly under the protection of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. We, and hopefully you agree, have the basis of all our beliefs, Psalm 118.8 which is in the exact middle of the entire ‘Holy Bible’. We believe everyone and everything in the physical world is a member of this church, even though most do not acknowledge it, others acknowledge and become a Deacon and yet others become Ministers in order to minister to others in a modality or modalities which are their Creator’s -given talents . This church believes in both the Preterist and the Futurist philosophies. We do not conform to the ways of this world. And most importantly, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” We are one in the Spirit.

We believe that the Creator gave everyone free will and to establish any rules, regulations and/or dogma is to deny free will! So we set forth the declaration to follow what you truly believe, (religion), in your heart to be true, is what you should do in order to live to the best of your ability. The Creator gave us guides and directions through the Scriptures in order to find the truth within our self. We believe in individual spirituality rather than religious dogma. We believe in the spirit invested in each and every human being to follow “The Still Small Voice” in their heart. We believe in the Creative power to heal through all forms of natural modalities. We are Spiritual beings which have a mind, emotions and physical body. The mind is not us and is dualistic, both Carnal and Spiritual. Carnal or unnatural, the good is for self and Spiritual or natural, the good is for others. While we do not disbelieve in the medical/drug modality, except for emergencies we believe that other modalities might be a better first choice. All things, as all seasons, have their time and place. In Truth, all modalities are in fact, counsel. Our ministers will give counsel coming from the Spiritual by way of natural (or natures) ways, such as, intuition, healing hands, herbs, astrology, numerology, graphology, tarot cards, palmistry, and any number of other modalities known to be in the Metaphysical and/or Para psychological realms. We believe all things begin in the spirit then to the mind where a decision is made between carnal and spiritual, then to the emotions which then affect the physical. There are numerous books on the market suggesting the emotions cause disease. But the study of cause and effect leads us to the mind which stimulate the emotions. The stronger the spirit the more apt the mind will choose the spiritual mind rather than the carnal and better health should prevail. Even Hippocrates, is known as the “Father of Medicine” was quoted saying … “A physician without knowledge of astrology has no right to call himself a physician.” When there is a lack of harmony, peace, lack of ease in the entity it is called a dis-ease. Should this dis-ease continue for any length of time it will out picture in the physical form in what is called a disease. This is the reason that most modern doctors will admit that the best thing they can do in most cases ….. is to put the body in a position to heal itself.

1 Corinthians 12:13
John 4: 23 — 24 and Matthew 6: 5 — 6
A word we use here to refer to that which is more widely known as, God, Allah, Adonai and hundreds
of others. www.ldolphin.org/names.html
1 Peter 4: 7-11 (N.K.J.)
www.preterist.org/whatispreterism.asp
Romans 12: 2
Psalm 118.8
Romans 12: 2
Romans 12: 6
Webster’s International Dictionary; opinion, advice, direction: instruction in or recommendation esp. It is
given as a result of consultation.

More Scriptural Support

From the New Testament book of Revelation Chapter 22: 1-3 (New King James Version)

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its streets, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The LEAVES of the tree were FOR the HEALING of the nations…. and his servants shall serve him.”
In verse 1 it clearly shows that the river of life, which symbolizes the healing power of God, proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The throne of God symbolizes the authority of God, and the throne of the Lamb symbolizes the authority of the church. The source of natural healing is the creative power of God, and the church shares the authority in dispensing and to mankind.
In verse 3 the writer says: through the help of natural healing which comes from the benefits of the tree of life, the curse of sickness would be lifted and his servants shall serve him”. We believe this means that God wants us to serve him by making natural methods of healing available to people through the gifts He has given to each one of us. As the apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 12: 5-6: There are diversities of ministries, but the same God. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

From the Old Testament the book of Ezekiel 46: 1-12

Our scriptural authority for believing that natural healing and natural medicine is in the domain and under the authority of the church and not in the domain and under the authority of any secular corporate or human government authority is found in our dynamic interpretation of Ezekiel 1-12. Some have called this old method of interpretation the Preterist School of prophetic interpretation.
In verses 8-9 the writer speaks of the same river and clearly shows that the river gives healing in life wherever it goes. This river proceeds from the temple of God which clearly symbolizes the healing power proceeds from the church of God and isn’t restrained by any human corporate or human governmental authority. Natural healing proceeds from the freedom of God and the church which represents Him.
In verse 12 it says, “Along the bank of the river on this sign in that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fall. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their LEAVES FOR MEDICINE.”

Scripture uses the words heal, healing, and medicine!

Our Background

Finding that the basic beliefs of most religions were thesame and only the dogma of mankind that caused the differences, the Universal Light Church was founded. TUL set out to establish a simple church that would represent as closely as possible what was believed to exist in spirit. (Spirit or energy, is what most followers of religion referred to as God/Allah, Alpha and Omega, I Am That I Am; spiritualist as the Light, Creator, Primal Energy, The Higher Power, or as the physicist referred to it has “the unified field”.) Since the majority of its members were more familiar with the Bible was used for scriptural authority. Also interesting reading is the Torah, the Qur’an and the Dhammapada.

Around 1974 the TUL began The Universal Light Inc., it was incorporated as a non-denominational, non-dogmatic, parapsychological and metaphysical church without walls. It is a 501(c)3 not -for- profit
Corporation. It is has become a legally recognized church with ministers internationally. Often ministers continued to practice their own very dogmatic religion. TUL refers to people whose religious beliefs cause them to put their efforts and energy toward the positive and good of others, “LIGHT WORKERS” and we can and do ordain them they have all legal rights and privileges of any priest, minister or rabbi.

As we work to build the New Paradigm, TUL found a new responsibility; the protection of light workers, since they use various metaphysical and parapsychological methods and tools which may not be understood by the general population. Many Light Workers have learned their art through inspiration, meditation, mentors, angels and other so-called “unorthodox” or “alternative” means. Today in fact, we are seeing many in the traditional healing fields such as medicine blend with those of the metaphysicians and parapsychologist. Remember it was “The Father of Medicine” who was quoted saying, “The physician without knowledge of astrology has no right to call himself a physician.” TUL also certifies Light Workers in ministries of their choosing. Any TUL minister can serve in multiple ministries and be certified in such. If you feel the need of a course or someone to tell you what you should believe, you are not yet ready to be a minister of The Universal Light. TUL also confers an accredited Doctorate in Divinity to those who qualify. It updates its records on each of its ministers annually in order to validate that they are still active with in the church. Update cost is only $25 if paid by October 1st. each year. Most States require a licensed minister to maintain an active ministry in the church it was ordained. Any minister of TUL can be validated from anywhere by phone. The Constitution protects an ordained minister regardless of the state in which they set up their ministry. However to officiate a wedding the laws of each state must be complied with. (A TUL minister can call its headquarters in Cincinnati any time to find their States laws regarding this.)

Just imagine for a moment that if everything that exists from people, trees to stars and planets were melted down into one big spot and nothing else existed including space. This would be in what we call TUL. It is the bases of all that is, in and around everything. Nothing exist without. It would be like “The Force” in Star Wars. Now most believe this created all things. Physicists tell us that everything comes from this unified field in the form of waves, these ways turn in the energy and the energy turns into matter. This could be the FORM of creating. Now some say that it banged (exploded) everything into existence. And some say that it just evolved into the different things. Now some say everything came from intelligent design, so they can call this TUL, intelligence. Do you see where I am going with this? Just indulge me for a moment and let’s change the name TUL to God or Allah or any one of a hundred different names. I think no matter how you want to believe things came about, it’s simply proves there IS some thing, (not necessarily matter or anti-matter — possibly what we call spiritual) which is God/Allah.

To more answers to questions NOT COVERED on our web site; www.theuniversallight.com, Simply call TUL 9am -9pm est at 1.513.825.8290 or e-mail at: tulight@cinci.rr.com

Product Profile: Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism

December 31, 2006August 17, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Judaism, Products, Religion

How are alchemy, astrology, magic, and numerology related to Jewish mysticism? The fabulous, miraculous, and mysterious are all explored in this comprehensive reference to Jewish esotericism-the first of its kind!

From amulets and angels to the zodiac and zombies, the Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism features over one thousand alphabetical entries. Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis offers a much-needed culmination of Jewish occult teachings that includes significant stories, mythical figures, practices, and ritual objects. Spanning the Bible, the Midrash, Kabbalah, and other mystical branches of Judaism, this well-researched text is meant to trigger insight, spark inspiration, and illuminate one of the oldest esoteric traditions still alive today.

This title releases from Llewellyn in January of 2007. To see more of Llewellyn’s products or to place orders visit: www.llewellyn.com

Magical Buffet Mythology: Hanuman

December 31, 2006June 4, 2010 by Administrator, posted in Hinduism, Mythology, Religion

Article by Rebecca
Image by Will Hobbs (www.sirwilliamwesley.com)

There are times when, if you’re like me, you look for examples of faith and piety, perhaps someone to inspire you, to teach you the power of devotion. It’s times like that when I think of a particular monkey, and no, it’s not “Monkey” from Dexter’s Laboratory, although he does kick butt! I’m talking about the Hindu God Hanuman.

Following in the fine tradition of Hindu deities with an animal/human thing going on, Hanuman has the head of a monkey or ape (choose your preference) and the body of a man. In all fairness, to many Hanuman is technically considered an immortal, but that does not stop people from loving him! Although he would prefer you devote yourself to Rama and Sita…more on that in a moment.

At the end of the day, Hanuman is known for his courage, power, and his faithful selfless service. Yet, like all mature deities, he had his wild youth. As a young empowered being he took flight and tried to catch the sun, Hanuman thought it was a ripe fruit. Hanuman also spent his days teasing and tormenting mediating sages, sometimes taking or moving around their personal possessions. To help keep everybody a little safer, and a little saner, a curse was put upon Hanuman that he would not remember his powers. They only become available to him when someone else reminds him that he possesses them. Therefore, Hanuman’s days of, pardon the expression, monkey business, were over. On with the mighty heroics!

In the service of Lord Rama, Hanuman accomplished great feats. Mainly, he grew in size. I mean, HUGE! We’re talking walking over oceans, carrying mountains, limitless tail length (it mattered, trust me), levels of largeness. Hanuman’s efforts can be directly linked to Lord Rama being reunited with his Sita. Thank you very much!

At the end of the day, what reward did Hanuman ask for? He asked to live for as long as men spoke of the deeds of Rama. You may be thinking, what a kiss up! Well, you aren’t alone, that’s what many said. To silence the critics, Hanuman tore open his chest with his claws to reveal that enshrined within were Rama and Sita. From that moment forward, no one doubted Hanuman’s devotion.

What can we learn from Hanuman? For starters, he teaches us of the power that lies unused in each of us. It was through Hanuman’s undying devotion to Rama that his powers became revealed to him, thus implying that the same potential lies within each of us as well. Primarily, Hanuman embodies wholly the word devotion, and illustrates to us the strength and power that devotion can provide us. When I think of Hanuman I ask myself one question, one that I pose to you now. If I tore open my chest, to show the world what was enshrined there, what would everyone see? It’s that question, and more importantly, the answer to that question, that illustrates Hanuman’s importance.

Profile: The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids

December 31, 2006August 17, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Organizations, Religion

Article Provided by Damh the Bard

The Druid/Pagan world in the early 1960s, when the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD) was created, was very different than it is now. Occult exploration was directed very much by ideas and rituals developed by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Theosophical Society, which, over the course of a very short time, helped to define the Western Mystery Tradition. At this time, ‘Druid’ and ‘Freemason’ were almost the same thing, with the dominant Druid groups being more like ‘Friendly Societies,’ mainly made up of men, and with very little spiritual direction. One of these groups would begin their meetings by placing a Bible on a table, and then banning the mention of religion. This was the Druid world in which Ross Nichols, the founder of the OBOD, began his life-long love of the Druid tradition, and all things Celtic. So how did Druidry get from this to become the dynamic and thriving spirituality we have today?

Ross had become friends with Gerald Gardner (who many now view as the father of modern Wicca) at the utopian Naturist resort of Speilplatz near St. Albans, Hertfordshire, and it is probably here that the foundations of the modern Pagan movement were laid. Between them, they set about creating the now familiar ‘Wheel of the Year,’ the cycle of eight seasonal festivals that divided the year up into approximately six-week parts. Each festival celebrated the changes in the agricultural and celestial worlds, which symbolically represented the dance between the Pagan God and Goddess of the Land. At that time, Druids only celebrated the two Equinoxes of Spring and autumn, and the Summer Solstice. Gardner introduced the wheel into his then-fledgling Wicca almost immediately. Druidry, on the other hand, had to wait until Ross formed the OBOD.

In 1964, when Ross was 62, three of the main influences in his spiritual life died. These were Gerald Gardner, the Ancient Druid Order’s Chief Macgregor Reid, and the Archbishop of the Ancient Celtic Church. Ross did not get on with the new Chief of the Ancient Druid Order, so took this opportunity to leave and start a new Order, one whose focus would be on re-introducing spirituality back into modern Druidry. So in 1964, the OBOD was born, and modern Druidry began the first steps that would lead it towards the Druidry practiced today.

Ross spent the next 11 years of his life exploring, developing, and creating. During the years, that Ross spent, as Chief of the OBOD one of his students was a young man named Philip Carr-Gomm. Ross had a great love of the energy of young people, and regularly included them in the open rituals performed by the Order at places like Primrose Hill in London, and Glastonbury Tor. Philip was a keen photographer, and Ross asked him to help create a photographic archive of the Order’s activities. Then, in 1970 at Beltane, Philip was initiated into the OBOD on Glastonbury Tor. At the time, the OBOD was still a small group, and when Ross died suddenly in 1975, the Order almost went with him; for 13 years, it slept. Then, in 1984, during a meditation, Ross appeared to Philip. He told him that the way of the Druid would become more and more important, that the teachings of the Druids would be of great relevance to our future, and that Philip should make them more widely available. So, for the next four years, Philip searched for anything that Ross had written down, finding the original manuscript of the Book of Druidry, much of his teaching material, and through a series of amazing coincidences, managed to piece together enough material to begin to create a teaching program. Continuing Ross’ structure of the three ‘grades’ of Bard, Ovate and Druid, the material was also so divided, which helped people to sustain a focus, and travel through a personal experiential journey. Then, in 1988, Philip was asked to re-form the Order, and to be its Chosen Chief.

It was the teaching program Philip created, and the method chosen to teach it, that would be responsible for the incredible growth of the OBOD in the late 80s and 90s. Now, in 2004, the OBOD is the largest and one of the most dynamic Druid organizations in the world.

The OBOD Now

Core Beliefs:

The OBOD Druid tradition reflects the teachings of the ancient Druids; it helps provide a way to develop a deeper and more meaningful relationship with the Spirits of the Land and our ancestors. It also addresses a driving need to open up our inner creativity – to learn to see the world through the eyes of a poet. It also teaches the arts of seership and divination. There are no ‘thou shalt nots’ within the OBOD teachings. Each member is encouraged to discover their own individual relationship with the Divine, in whatever way it shows its face to them, be that through God, Goddess or Great Spirit. All the time with the knowledge that, although they develop this personal relationship, they have others who walk the Path beside them.

Organization of Groups:
Since the first people joined the Order in 1988, thousands of members have walked this path, creating a network of Druids with over 80 Groves and Seed groups around the world, and providing the basis of a real Druidic community. These groups are autonomous and are individual groups in their own right. However, what links the members of these groups together is the OBOD course – they have all walked a path that has been tread many times before, by many other people. This kinship is a bond between members of the Order. One of the benefits being that it avoids the intrusion of the ego. In the end, all members, if they wish, can move through the grades (or schools), and as each grade teaches different skills, the Bard is not inferior to the Ovate, nor the Ovate inferior to the Druid.

As a part of the natural growth of this community, the OBOD also hold camps and assemblies in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia.

Although the OBOD’s structure is divided into ‘grades’, they are more like ‘schools’ – each one teaching different skills, each one building on the other in a journey of spiritual discovery.

To provide a training that works on both the surface and at a far deeper, inner level, members are offered the support of a personal mentor. Members can request a tutor from a network of over 70 worldwide, who they can correspond with about their experiences with the course. The mentor’s role is not to ‘teach’ but to ‘walk the path’ with the member as tutor and friend.

The OBOD course takes its inspiration from the ancient Druids, but for it to be of value to us today, Druidry cannot simply be re-enactment. We need to allow ourselves to look at how the ancient teachings can help us grow and become more at one with the Natural World in our modern age. Druidry is not a ‘revealed’ religion, and therefore has no dogmatic ‘thou shalt nots’ – instead it is a living, breathing, thriving spirituality that the world needs now, more than ever before.

The Bardic Grade

The Bards were the shaman poets of the Druidic caste, and much of the knowledge we have about the ancient Druids comes from the old Bardic tales. One of these tales is the story of Taliesin, the Primary Bard of Britain. The OBOD Bardic grade uses the skill of Bardic teaching through story and poetry; we take the same journey as Gwion Bach (Little Innocent) so that through the experiences of the story, we can gain insight into the Wisdom of the Bards. So often people see spirituality as a way of escaping the world. But the Bardic course helps us become rooted in the Natural World that surrounds us, opening our eyes to the wonders that are there, just waiting to be discovered.

The Ovate Grade

If the Bardic grade teaches us of the wonders of the Natural World, then the Ovate grade takes our hand, and leads us into the deep forest. The Druids and trees are inextricably linked, and it is here, in the Ovate grade, that the work with trees and herbs begins. The Ovates were the Druidic seers, so it is within the safety of the forest that we begin to work with the skills of divination, healing and the magic of the Earth. Exploring our relationship with our ancestors of blood and of spirit; stepping into the dark Grove of Yews to commune with them and learn the wisdom of the night, and of the moon.

The Druid Grade

After the re-enchantment of the Bardic grade, and the deep discovery of the Ovate grade, the Druid grade then guides us towards an exploration of the mysteries of the stones and stars, and of those powers symbolized by the Dragon – deepening our learning and experience of Druid philosophy and magical practice. It will have taken at least two years to reach this point, and we will have journeyed to many places, both within and without. Our experiences will have taught us much and it is here, within the Druid grade, that we might be inspired to step into some form of service to the Druidic tradition.

Holidays:

Like many other paths, the OBOD honors the eight seasonal festivals of our modern Pagan traditions. These being:

The Solar Cycle
Alban Arthan (Winter Solstice): Alban Arthan means the Light of Arthur. Some Druid Orders believe this means the Light of the hero King Arthur Pendragon who is symbolically reborn as the Sun Child (The Mabon) at the time of the Solstice. Others see the Light belonging to the star constellation known as the Great Bear (or the Plough) – Arthur, or Art, being Gaelic for Bear. This constellation shines out in the sky and can symbolize the rebirth of the Sun. At this point, the Sun is at its southernmost point almost disappearing beyond the horizon, and the days are at their shortest. This was a time of dread for the ancient peoples as they saw the days getting shorter and shorter. A great ritual was needed to reverse the course of the sun. This was probably calculated by the great circles of stone and burial grounds, which are aligned to this festival, such as Newgrange in Co. Meath, Eire. Sure enough, the next day the Sun began to move higher into the sky, showing that it had been reborn.

This time of year is very cold and bleak, which is why so many celebrations are needed to help people get through the winter months. It is significant that many civilizations welcomed their Solar Gods at the time of greatest darkness – including Mithras (the bull-headed Warrior God), the Egyptian God Horus and, more recently, Jesus Christ

Alban Eilir (Spring Equinox): Alban Eilir means the Light of the Earth. As the Sun grows warmer, so life begins to show through the soil. Small signs at first – the daffodils and crocuses – then more green as the bluebells and wood anemones spread through the woodland. Plants are seen by some as inanimate greenery with no actual feelings and life force. But Druids see life in all living things, from rocks and stones, to rivers and springs, plants and trees – all life is sacred. Have you ever thought about how you recognize the beginning of spring? Is it the plant life? The weather? How does a plant know when it is time to grow? It cannot tell the time or see a calendar. Yet, it knows. If it has senses then it has consciousness; if it has consciousness then it is more than an inanimate life form. So, it is the return of life to the Earth that is celebrated at Alban Eilir, the time of balance.

One of the inner mysteries of Druidry is the Druid’s egg. Life-giving, it is the egg protected by the hare, which is the symbol of Alban Eilir – still celebrated by the giving of Easter eggs by the Easter Bunny.

Alban Hefin (Summer Solstice): Alban Hefin means the Light of the Shore. Druidry has a great respect and reverence for places that are "in between" worlds. The seashore is one such place, where the three realms of Earth, Sea and Sky meet. There is great power in places such as these. Alban Hefin is the time of greatest light when the Solar God is crowned, by the Goddess, as the King of Summer. It also brings some sadness because from now until Alban Arthan the Sun’s strength is declining and we have entered the waning year. At this time the Dark Twin, or Holly King, is born – he will take his crown at Alban Arthan. Of all the festivals, Druidry is mostly associated with Alban Hefin. The wonderful white-robed figures filmed at the dawn rituals at Stonehenge are testament to this. However, to many Druids it is the turning seasons and the cycle of life, death and rebirth – reflected in the Wheel of the Year in its completeness – which is significant.

Alban Elfed (Autumn Equinox): Alban Elfed means the Light of the Water. The Wheel turns and the time of balance returns. Alban Elfed marks the balance of day and night before the darkness overtakes the light. It is also the time of the second harvest, usually of the fruit, which has stayed on the trees and plants to ripen under the Summer Sun. It is this final harvest, which can take the central theme of the Alban Elfed ceremony. Thanking the Earth, in her full abundance as Mother and Giver, for the great harvest. It is the beginning of autumn.

The Agricultural Cycle

Imbolc: On or around the 1st of February – This is seen in the OBOD as the first of three spring festivals. It is hard sometimes to think of spring in what feels like the depths of winter. But if we look at the ground we can see the first shoots of green beginning to reach towards the Sun. Imbolc can be celebrated on either the 1st or 2nd February, or more naturally when the Snowdrops cover the ground.

Imbolc
by Damh the Bard

As the dark, cold morning gives way to light,
And the world shows its face dazzling in her nakedness,
So the twigs and leaf-bare branches,
Bow to the passing danceOf old Jack Frost.

His crystal breathe on the earth,
And the corners of houses weep icicles of joy.
But where is the Sun’s warmth?
Where is life?

A small flower, delicate and pure-white,
Looks to the earth,
As if talking to the waiting green,
"Not yet," it seems to whisper.
"When I fall, then you can return."

And she nods her head,
as the Lady passes by,
Leaving more flowers in Her wake.

Beltane: On or around the 1st of May – Beltane is the beginning of Summer, or the height of Spring. It is thought that the ancients only recognized two seasons, these being summer and winter. Beltane is the time when the Earth is literally buzzing with fertility. Life springs forth in all of its richness, and the land is covered with beautiful flowers and the freshly opened leaves of the trees are a quality of green that they only show at this time of year. At Beltane, the Lady of the Land takes the hand of the Horned God, and together they walk into the forest. Their cries of love bring all life from the Earth. Some celebrate Beltane on the dates given above, whilst others look to the flowers of the May tree as their signal that Beltane has, at last, arrived.

Lughnasadh: On or around the 1st of August – Lughnasadh is the first of two harvest festivals, the other being Alban Elfed (the Autumn Equinox). At Lughnasadh we see the fields of corn being cut, and for some this is the true time of the festival. In the fields John Barleycorn, who laid with the Lady in the woods at Beltane, has grown old, and now stands bent and bearded with a crocked cane. He looks to the Sun as he has changed from green to gold, and he knows that his time has come. His life will feed the people, and it is this sacrifice that we honour at Lughnasadh.

Samhain: On of around the 31st of October – This is the festival of the dead, a festival of remembrance and honoring of our dear departed friends and relations. It is said that, at Samhain, the veil that separates the worlds is at its thinnest. So our world, the world of Faerie, and that of the dead, blend as one. It is no wonder then that this night has become so wrapped in superstition. It is a night of wonder, and magic. On this night the Cailleach (the Crone) comes to strip the leaves from the trees, to quicken the decay of the flesh of the year, so that it may feed the new life to come. We can also ask Her to take the unwanted aspects of our personal year away, so that this too might be transformed. Yet even on the darkest night of Samhain, whilst our minds ponder our mortality, if you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of a new-born child crying for its Mother’s breast, for shortly it will be Alban Arthan, the Winter solstice, and the Wheel will turn once more.

Oh that I could see to the Other Realm –
that I could learn the magic of the Ancients.
Oh that the secrets of the Druids
could be whispered in my ears
that I might know their beauty and their power –
that I might love again this land
and hear the voices of the Goddess and the God
in the trees and in the rivers.

Reading and Other Resources:
Phillip Carr-Gomm. The Druid Mysteries. Rider 2002
Druidcraft. Thorsons 2003
The Druid Animal Oracle. Connections 1996
Ross Nichols. Book of Druidry: History, Sites and Wisdom. Thorsons 1992.
Emma Restall Orr. Druid Priestess. Harper Collins 2001

To find out more about the OBOD or to contact the Order:
OBOD
PO Box 1333
Lewes, E. Sussex, BN7 1DX.
44-(0)1273-470888
office@druidry.org
www.druidry.org

Angel Communication 101

December 31, 2006August 17, 2009 by Administrator, posted in Christianity/Catholicism, Guest Authors, Magic/Occult, Religion

by Rev. Sheri Kozdron

There are two common questions that may come to mind when hearing the term Angel Reader or Angel Medium. “What’s that?” And “How do you do it?”

What is an Angel Reader, and how is that different from other readers? There are some differences among all types of readings, but the main underlying purpose is very similar. An Angel Reader may use angel oracle cards like the beautiful collection of oracle card decks created by Dr. Doreen Virtue. Some people feel more comfortable with a reader who uses angel cards versus a reader who uses the Tarot. While Tarot can be a very accurate prediction tool, angel guidance is more difficult when it comes to predicting time; the concept of time is our creation and does not really exist in the Angelic Realm. However, some individuals who may not completely understand the Tarot may also fear some of the cards or images, like the death card, and will prefer an Angel Reader just because they are more comfortable with the images. Whether you go to an Angel Reader, Tarot Reader, or Crystal Ball Reader, it is vital that you first feel comfortable with that person so that your energy will be open to being read. The process of an Angel Reading includes calling in your personal Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides (including your Master Guide), your deceased loved ones, the Archangels and Ascended Masters, and only the highest energies for your highest good. There will never be any lower energies or Earth Bound Spirits (souls who are stuck here) intruding in your Angel Reading. While it is definitely possible to connect with those individuals if it’s needed, lower energy beings are not generally called upon to give you guidance and messages by an Angel Reader. Readings are also performed with the understanding that those being read have their own free will and are not bound to adhere to any guidance received.

How does someone learn to communicate with angels? Learning to connect with the Angelic Realm means learning how to communicate with Guardian Angels, Spirit Guides, Archangels, Ascended Masters and Deceased Loved Ones. The truth is that anyone can learn this. The biggest secret is not to try too hard; angel/spirit communication is really not as difficult as you might think it is.

My favorite question of all time was asked of me in the bathroom of an event where I was offering my services. An attendee happened to see my name badge with my company name, Angel Messenger. She asked me if I offered angel readings then asked if I had studied under Doreen Virtue. I answered that I had not ever met Doreen but loved her work and had read almost all of her books. I could see the look in her eye, and then she proceeded to tell me that I really should study under Doreen as this was a way for me to basically be good at what I do. I politely thanked the woman for her advice but laughed inside at the same time.

Ask yourself, “Where did Dr. Doreen Virtue receive her gift from?” She received her Divine gifts and talents from the same Source or Spirit as John Edward, Sylvia Brown, Rev. Sheri Kozdron and you. Yes, I said “and you”. It wasn’t until someone asked me my favorite question that I realized how people misunderstood this. Anyone can learn to communicate with their angels, guides and loved ones. All you have to do is develop the ability by gaining the appropriate knowledge and practicing that knowledge. No one is born knowing how to ride a bike, but just about anyone can learn. You may need training wheels at first, but you can do it.

We are all born with the ability. As children, we may have had imaginary friends that were actually angels or spirits. We were more likely to be able to see things that others did not including angels and spirits, auras, or even knowing things about our own past lives or that of our loved ones. It’s as we grow older that we learn to doubt what seems so obvious when we’re children.

I once worked as an assistant in a day care where one day a little boy was coloring a picture of his family. Everyone was colored in as you would expect . . . shirt, pants, proper hair color all colored within the lines – except for the dog. The dog was purple and colored as if there were no lines at all. In fact, it just appeared to be a mass of purple scribble. The teacher had good intentions when she jokingly suggested that he had made a mistake. “Dogs aren’t purple,” she said. It wasn’t until years later that I realized how that dog was in fact purple. That little boy saw the dog’s aura – purple!

Another commonality among children is their ability to recall past lives. One of my clients has a little girl who enjoys sharing tea time with her great grandmother more than playing with children her own age. She told her mother all about her “old family” . . . names, where they lived, etc. Guess what? Those people are still alive! This child’s eighty year old past life husband is still alive! It’s amazing the ability we throw away as we grow older . . .

It is amazing the ability we throw away as we grow older, but the good news is that we can get it back. Some people, like Sylvia Brown for example, are born with the gift and nurtured by family or other influences to develop their gift. Others, like John Edward, learn to turn the light back on so to speak. John Edward was a skeptic until he met a psychic who changed his life. John was still only a teenager when he began to reopen his gifts; but, if a teenager can be open enough to a new idea and accept such amazing ability, there’s a good chance you can too. Not all of us are meant to be famous Psychic Mediums as we all have different paths, but it is an incredible gift to be able to receive guidance or reassurance from your own angels and guides or to communicate with someone you’ve lost.

One thing that makes it easier to communicate with the other side is knowing who you are talking to. Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides are the two main beings you will have with you at all times. Your Guardian Angels are with you throughout your whole life, from birth to death. Guardian Angels have, for the most part, have never lived a lifetime on Earth. So, your Grandma Pearl is usually not going to be your Guardian Angel. Spirit Guides, on the other hand, have lived on Earth. They are considered teachers in the after life and are guiding you on something they have some expertise in. Spirit Guides do change throughout your lifetime; however, your Master Guide remains with you throughout your whole life. Both your guides and angels can appear to you as a feeling, animal, or even another human being. They can appear both in your dream and wake states. There are also Archangels and Ascended Masters which are basically a level up from Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides in that order. The main Archangels you should know are Michael, Gabrielle/Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Metatron, and Sandalphon. There are many important Archangels, but this is a good start. Although it is important to point out that you do not need to know which Archangel does what, the following is a basic rundown of the above:

Archangel Michael – courage and protection; helps with changes
Archangel Gabrielle – nurturing and children, communication and the arts
Archangel Raphael – physical healing; also helps healers find money for education, brings in clients, and anything to do with helping the healer to heal
Archangel Uriel – “psychologist angel” – emotional healing; sheds positive energy onto any situation; also for travel and world healing
Archangel Metatron* – Crystal and Indigo Children, Sacred Geometry, Abundance; was prophet and scribe Enoch from the Bible in his life on Earth.
Archangel Sandolphon* – Carries prayers to Heaven; was Prophet Elijah.

*Metatron and Sandolphon are the only two Archangels who were once mortal men.

Lastly, the Ascended Masters are people like Buddha, Jesus, Mary, Moses, Saint John, Aphrodite, Athena, Brigit, Dana, Maat, Maeve, and Merlin. Basically, the Ascended Masters were those people who became spiritual leaders in their Earthly life. They are considered masters of their realm and were granted high position in Heaven. Masters are relevant to all faiths and can be called upon for assistance whenever there is a need.

Now let’s talk about some ways that you can begin to communicate for yourself. Dreams are a very common way for angels, guides and loved ones to try communicating with us. It is the easiest for us to see and hear the other side upon awakening or when we’re just falling asleep. Being in a dream state puts our ego on hold, and our subconscious is in charge. While the ego likes to tell us that everything is just coincidence, our higher self (soul) breaks free in the subconscious. To begin communicating in your sleep, you must first hold the intention of wanting to do so. Say aloud or within your mind, “Dear _______, I want to talk to you in my sleep. Please come to me tonight, and help me remember my dreams in the morning. Thank you.” You can ask for a loved one, angel, etc. Don’t be upset if you don’t have the dream you expect or don’t remember any dreams. Holding the intention and trying is the first step.

Important suggestions are #1 to keep a dream journal. Keep a spiral bound notebook and pen at your bedside and write down anything you can remember upon awakening . . . colors, feelings, people, etc. If you wake up in the middle of the night, be sure to also note the time you awoke. You may not notice anything immediately, but the colors, numbers, feelings, situations, or other things may mean something to you in a few days. (Be sure to also date your journal.) Suggestion #2 is to get an amethyst and put it either in your pillow case (tumbled only) or again at your bedside. Be sure to cleanse the crystal by using the smoke of white sage or another cleansing method and ask the crystal to help you to have intuitive dreams that connect you with whomever you wish. Suggestion #3 is to protect yourself if you are afraid. This can easily block you from remembering, and can prevent you from connecting at all. If you are afraid, ask your Master Guide to guide you during your dreams. Unlike regular Spirit Guides, your Master Guide has been with you since you were born into this lifetime and is your main guide. If you don’t know your Master Guide, or prefer extra protection, call in Archangel Michael. Archangel Michael is the “Guardian of Guardians”. If you are ever afraid or needing courage, calling in Michael is calling in the “Big Guns”!

Meditation is another wonderful tool to help you connect with the other side. The most common response to the idea of meditating is “I don’t have time for that!” But you do have time! Do you take a daily shower? Let’s hope so. It’s this simple . . . while taking your shower, imagine the water as a waterfall of Divine White Light falling down over your body and cleansing away negativity and impurities. Allow the light to enter through the top of your head (your crown chakra) and flow through your body and out the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. Just stand there and allow yourself to feel the warmth and love of this Heavenly energy. This is a great little meditative exercise that will energize you for the day, help you stay positive, and begin to introduce you to the energy and simplicity of mediation.

Meditation Recommendations for Communicating
Angels & Guides Meditation CD by John Edward – This program discusses the differences between angels and spirit guides then walks you through a guided meditation to meet your own guides.
Take a bath! Relax into a hot bath to get some quiet relaxation time. Tell your angels and guides this is their time to talk to you, and allow your mind to drift into nothingness.
Experiment with different aromatherapy scents or colored bath salts.

Here’s a favorite method of mine . . . Ask a question then forget about it. Don’t constantly look for the answer to your prayer. Really, I just ask something like “Please give me sign about ________.” Then I go on with my day and forget about it, all the while having faith that my question will be answered in its own time. My answer usually comes when I’m in a meditative state by accident like when doing the dishes, cleaning, driving, etc. All of a sudden, I will just “know” the answer. Or, an important message may come from a song on the radio or overhearing a conversation. For example, I wanted to know if I should continue to work on a specific project that I had put on the back burner for a while. I accidentally came across a book related to my project but thought it might be coincidence, so I asked for confirmation. Then, I received a phone call from a client I hadn’t heard from in a while that discussed a specific name that means something to my project. The final confirmation was when I was at an event recently where a woman walked up to me and specifically asked if I had anything like my project. Once you at least begin to notice the guidance coming to you, more will come, and it will become more and more difficult to ignore.

Once you have learned some basics, you can begin to practice some of what’s called “The 4 Clairs”. . . . Clairsentience, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, and Claircognizance. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the titles; it’s really not that hard.

Clairsentience is probably the most common way that people receive messages from the other side. Named “The Force” in Star Wars, Clairsentience is the physical and emotional reactions we have as an intuition about different places, ideas, people, and events. Gut feelings, hunches, spiritual senses; it’s a strong sudden sensation or emotion unrelated to current surroundings. It’s when you “just have a feeling”. Clairvoyance is the most well known form of “seeing the future”; however, it’s not always about having detailed visions like Phoebe Halliwell on Charmed. Clairvoyance also includes having detailed or lucid dreams. Although Clairsentience is known as “clearly seeing”, it is not always related to seeing with your physical eyes as visions usually happen within the safety of your mind. Clairvoyance is from the Third Eye Chakra which is in the middle of your forehead just above your physical eyes. Clairvoyant messages may come to you through snapshot mental images or whole scenarios you see within your mind’s eye (third eye). Seeing colors/auras and angel lights/orbs, having corner of the eye visions, and seeing visual signs or symbols (objects) are also forms of Clairvoyance.

Clairaudience is when you hear guidance or messages. Considered the still small voice from within, Clairaudience can come in the form of overhearing a conversation, a song on the radio, your own inner voice, a voice outside your head, or evening ringing in your ears. Doreen Virtue tells a story about how she was saved from being harmed by someone trying to steal her car because of a loud voice that came from nowhere. Joan of Arc also heard voices. Although she was considered crazy, many believe that Joan did really hear the Voice of God. Fear of being considered crazy is a big reason that many Clairaudient people are closed off to this gift. But, rest assured, you are not always crazy when you hear voices. Just be sure you know the difference between true guidance and something else. True Divine Guidance from Heaven will be supportive and loving while false guidance will compare you to others, may ask you to hurt yourself or others, and may be just plain creepy.

Claircognizance is when you all of a sudden just “know” something without any reason for knowing, and it is also the most difficult form of communication to trust because of the fact that those who are most likely to be primarily Claircognizant are highly intellectual people. They are the people who cannot be hypnotized, those who are more scientifically minded, and those that are the most likely to doubt information which seems to come from nowhere. These intelligent people are more likely to believe that they’ve just made up what they’re thinking on their own. Claircognizance is when you receive sudden revelations, insights, foresight, or other knowledge.

To help open yourself up to connecting with the Angelic Realm, it could be very helpful to have an Angel Reader/Medium/Channel give you a reading where you can begin to understand what it’s like to work with the Angelic Realm. You may even be able to uncover past life issues that might hold you back from opening up to your own abilities. This is also where healing sessions can be helpful in removing any blockages and jumpstarting/balancing your Chakras (internal energy system). Of course, there are many types of healers including those who use angel energy, Reiki practitioners, Shamanic healers, etc. Whether for a reading or a healing session, it is best to go with what makes you feel comfortable.

To find out more about connecting with the Angelic Realm for yourself, there are many products on the market you can consider. Some products I personally recommend are as follows:

Divine Guidance by Dr. Doreen Virtue
Archangels & Ascended Masters by Dr. Doreen Virtue
Angels & Guides Meditation by John Edward or Developing Your Own Psychic Powers by John Edward which includes the other meditation.

Rev. Sheri Kozdron is a Spiritual Intuitive and Teacher who offers her readings and healing sessions to clients all over the world. She offers angelic guidance and messages for past, present, and future through her work as an Angel Medium. Rev. Sheri is also Certified Master Crystal Healer who uses her knowledge of crystals and Divine ability to channel Angel Energy to heal energetic issues within the body and all levels of the aura and soul.

Rev. Sheri’s most popular class is her Mediumship Workshop where she teaches students how to communicate with angels, guides and loved ones for themselves. While Rev. Sheri believes that that seeking “professional help” from a Psychic Medium like herself is important, she believes even more in the necessity of learning to communicate for yourself.

Check out www.AngelMessenger.net for the Angel Moments Podcast and Free Online Angel Card Readings! You’ll also find an Online Store with products to help you develop your spiritual and intuitive self.

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